Conveyor roll arrangement

ABSTRACT

A conveyor roll arrangement provides for a hollow roll body that is journalled for rotation about a roll axle that is supported by two elongated supports; and clamping means are provided for supporting each roll axle end on a support and has two normally substantially parallel, normally substantially equidistant elongated plates with aligned apertures which receive the roll axle end, and adjusting means which can vary the distance between the plates near one end relative to the distance near the other end of said plates, so as to clamp effectively and in exact predetermined position the roll axle ends.

United States Patent Fischbacher [451 June 13, 1972 [54] CONVEYOR ROLLARRANGEMENT 1,643,557 9/1927 Goldman ..269/170 X [72] Inventor: HermannSchindler, Schafihausen, 1,725,740 8/1929 Schulte ..198/ 127 Xswltzerland FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [731 Assignw Georg FischerAG, Schafihausen, Switzer- 1,208,687 1/1966 Germany ..193/37 land 32,6583/1911 Sweden ..193/37 22 Filed: Feb. 18, 1971 Primary Exammer-Evon C.Blunk [21] Appl. No.: 116,532 Assistant Examiner-W. Scott CarsonAtt0rneyErnest F. Marmorek [30] Foreign Application Priority Data IABSTRACT March 6, 1970 Switzerland ..3298/70 A conveyor r0 arrangementpmvides for a hollow r0" y that is joumalled for rotation about a rollaxle that is sup- ((51. HIM/Egg; ported y two elongated supports; and pg means are [58] i g provided for supporting each roll axle end on asupport and 198/127 R 269/1674 70 has two normally substantiallyparallel, normally substantially equidistant elongated plates withaligned apertures which receive the roll axle end, and adjusting meanswhich can vary [56] References Cited the distance between the platesnear one end relative to the UNITED STATES PATENTS distance near theother end 01' said plates, so as to clamp effectively and in exactpredetermined position the roll axle ends. 833,326 10/1906 Hiler..193/37 X I 1,333,821 3/1920 Ovestrud 198/127 R 6 Claims, 3 DrawingFigures ll \\1\ i1 5' 1i 5 ii !i z.

I, l! I g I! I Ii 9 f4? 4 ii 3 1 7 CONVEYOR ROLL ARRANGEMENT BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION The invention relates to conveyor roll arrangements,and relates more particularly to a conveyor roll that includes a hollowroll body that is joumalled for rotation about an immovable roll axle.More particularly, the invention relates to such an arrangement in whichthe roll axle ends are supported substantially perpendicularly to thedirection of elongation of two elongated supports.

Conveyor rolls of this type are mounted in roll conveyors, for instancefor transporting holding or casting boxes in foundries, or in conveyorsystems for transporting piece goods.

Conveyor rolls are known in which the ends of the roll axles are guidedin recesses which are established in laterally arranged supports, andhave means to restrain axial and radial movement. Constructions arefurthermore known in which the ends of the roll axles are provided withsurfaces and with holding means cooperating therewith.

These constructions of the prior art have, however, the disadvantagethat the elements needed for these constructions are expensive tomanufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly among the principal objectsof the invention to provide a conveyor roll arrangement which ischaracterized by a minimum of parts with attendant savings in cost.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a con veyor rollthat is easy to mount effectively and in exact predetermined position.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth inpart in the following specification and in part will be obvioustherefrom without being specifically referred to, the same beingrealized and attained as pointed out in the claims hereof.

With the above and other objects of the invention in view, the inventionconsists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination ofvarious devices, elements and parts, as set forth in the claims hereof,certain embodiments of the same being illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings and described in the specification.

Broadly speaking, the instant invention provides for clamping of theopposite roll axle ends in apertures of normally substantiallyequidistant, normally substantially parallel plates which are mounted onthe respective support which, together with adjusting means, such asadjusting screws, form clamping means for the effective clamping inexact predetermined position of the roll axle ends.

The instant invention furthermore provides for mounting the rims on theroll body ends by metal binding means and/or metal bonding agents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAMNGS For a fuller understanding of thenature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to thefollowing detailed description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a conveyor roll arrangement inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view, on a smaller scale, ascompared to FIG. 1, of a plurality of conveyor rolls in accordance withthe embodiment of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, on a scale and in itsarrangement similar to that of FIG. 1, but embodying a modification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In carrying the invention intoeffect in the embodiments which have been selected for illustration inthe accompanying drawings and for description in this specification, andreferring now particularly to FIG. 1, there is provided a conveyor rollarrangement that includes a cylindrical hollow roll or roll body 1 thatcarries near its opposite ends rims 2 and 2'. The rims 2, 2', aremounted on the roll 1 by means of a well known conventional metalbonding agent.

The roll 1 has an off-set rolling surface 15, and in the off-setportions is provided with vent holes 19. Near both ends, the hollow rollbody 1 mounts conventional, suitable ball bearings 12 which are pressedinto the ends of the hollow roll body 1, and which are mounted on theopposite ends 4 of an immovably held roll axle 3. Each ball bearing 12is held axially, on one hand at its retaining ring by means of a spacerring 13 that is seated against a shoulder that is formed on the interiorof the roll body 1, and at its inner ring by means of an adjusting ring10. Each of the adjusting rings 10 is connected to its respective rollaxle end 4 by means of a set screw 11, and furthermore has its bore,with which it surrounds the external surface of the roll axle end 4bonded to said end 4 by a suitable bonding agent. A play 16 is providedbetween the shoulder of each adjusting ring 10 and the inner ring of theball bearing 12 adjacent thereto.

The roll axle ends 4 are connected, with the axis of the roll axle 3disposed perpendicularly to two supports, such as angle irons, 7 in thefollowing manner. Each support 7 has a beam engaging portion 17 and aportion at right angle thereto which defines a surface 14. The surface14 is parallel to the portion 17. Apertures or bores 5 and 5' areprovided in plates 6 and 6', respectively, and are substantiallyaligned. The plates 6 and 6 are normally substantially equidistant andnormally substantially parallel to each other on each support 7. Boltsor screws 9 connect the plates 6 and 6' of each support 7 to therespective support. The plates 6 and 6 furthermore are provided withadjusting means, such as adjusting screws 8 which, together with theplates 6 and 6' and the apertures 5 and 5' constitute clamping means forthe respective roll axle end 4.

In FIG. 2 there is shown a series of rolls 1, constituting a portion ofa roll conveyor.

OPERATION The operation of the above described embodiment has beendescribed hereinabove. The roll body 1 is mounted on the ball bearings12 which, in turn, are mounted on the ends 4 of the roll axle 3. Theball bearings are secured against disengagement. Each roll axle end 4 issupported on a surface 14 of the support 7 and in the substantiallyaligned apertures 5, 5' of the plates 6 and 6 which are mounted by thescrews 9 on the support 7. For clamping the roll end 4, the operatorwill adjust the plates 6 and 6' by means of the adjusting screws 8.

In the modification of FIG. 3, similar parts have been provided with thesame reference numerals as in the preceding views. A driven pinion 18has been mounted near one end of the roll body 1, which serves forrotating the roll body 1 about the axis of the roll axle 3. The pinion18 is mounted near the rim 2 or 2', requiring moving of the rim furtheraway from the end of the roll 1 than in FIG. 1.

The operation of the modification of FIG. 3, except for providing forthe driving pinion 18, is in other respects similar to that of theembodiment of FIG., 1.

Certain of the advantages of the invention have already been hereinreferred to. It may be useful, however, to allude particularly at thispoint, to the simplified production possibilities afforded by theinstant invention and the attendant low production cost. The instantinvention furthermore has been found to be a particularly desirable typeof mounting for the roll axle 3 and the roll 1 and aflords simpleoperational steps, partly as described in the foregoing and partly asself-evident from the preceding description.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to theexact details of construction shown and described, for obviousmodifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tobe secured by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. A conveyor roll arrangement, for use in connection with two elongatedsupports,

comprising in combination,

a roll axle being adapted to be supported imrnovably from said supportswith the axis of the roll axle disposed substantially perpendicular tothe direction of elongation of said supports,

a hollow substantially cylindrical roll body journalled for rotationabout said roll axle and having rims mounted near the opposite roll bodyends,

and clamping means adapted for supporting each roll axle end on asupport, comprising two normally substantially parallel, nonnallysubstantially equidistant elongated plates defining substantiallyaligned apertures receiving said roll axle end, and

adjusting means operable to vary the distance between said plates nearone end relative to the distance near the other end of said plates,whereby said roll axle ends will be clamped effectively and in exactpredetermined position.

2. A conveyor roll arrangement, as claimed in claim 1, said rims beingbonded to the external surface of said hollow roll body.

3. A conveyor roll arrangement, as claimed in claim 1, said roll bodyhaving at least one off-set external rolling surface.

4. A conveyor roll arrangement, as claimed in claim 1, and an adjustingring mounted on at least one of said roll axle ends and bonded thereto.

5. A conveyor roll arrangement, as claimed in claim 1, and vent holesestablished in portions of said hollow roll body offset from the rollingsurface of said rolling body.

6. A conveyor roll arrangement, as claimed in claim 1, and a drivingpinion connected to said roll body, for rotating the roll body, saidpinion being secured to said roll body near one end thereof adjacent oneof said rims.

il I i annun

1. A conveyor roll arrangement, for use in connection with two elongatedsupports, comprising in combination, a roll axle being adapted to besupported immovably from said supports with the axis of the roll axledisposed substantially perpendicular to the direction of elongation ofsaid supports, a hollow substantially cylindrical roll body journalledfor rotation about said roll axle and having rims mounted near theopposite roll body ends, and clamping means adapted for supporting eachroll axle end on a support, comprising two normally substantiallyparallel, normally substantially equidistant elongated plates definingsubstantially aligned apertures receiving said roll axle end, andadjusting means operable to vary the distance between said plates nearone end relative to the distance near the other end of said plates,whereby said roll axle ends will be clamped effectively and in exactpredetermined position.
 2. A conveyor roll arrangement, as claimed inclaim 1, said rims being bonded to the external surface of said hollowroll body.
 3. A conveyor roll arrangement, as claimed in claim 1, saidroll body having at least one off-set external rolling surface.
 4. Aconveyor roll arrangement, as claimed in claim 1, and an adjusting ringmounted on at least one of said roll axle ends and bonded thereto.
 5. Aconveyor roll arrangement, as claimed in claim 1, and vent holesestablished in portions of said hollow roll body off-set from therolling surface of said rolling body.
 6. A conveyor roll arrangement, asclaimed in claim 1, and a driving pinion connected to said roll body,for rotating the roll body, said pinion being secured to said roll bodynear one end thereof adjacent one of said rims.